Built-in disappearing furniture



Aug. 7, 1923. 1,464,352

' C. R. COX

BUILT-IN DISAPPEARING FURNITURE Filed Feb. 18, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 /g INVENTOR Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

CHESTER R. COX, 0F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

BUILT-IN DISAPPEARING FURNITURE.

Application led February 18, 192D.

To all w tem it 77u17/ concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER R. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Built-In Disappearing Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' folding structures and especially to built in disappearing furniture andthe like.

The present invention contemplates the use of obtainable wall or partition space where saving of room is desirable las in flats, apartments, dwellings and the like, and has for its object the building in of foldable disappearing furniture such as wall seats, tables. cabinet attachments, ironing boards, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structure which permits ready extension or folding of furniture of this character and which forms a support for the same, both in folded and in extended position.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described land claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a combi nation cabinet and seat.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the seat in folded position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical section of the seat.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the flexible connection formed between the seat and one of its supporting members.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the inner seat connection.

Fig. G is a perspective view of a foldable disappearing` shelf.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section showing the shelf in folded position.

Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the shelf extended.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the inner end of the shelf.

The present invention is adaptable for various uses and is in the present instance illustrated as applied to a folding disappearing wall seat. The seat here illustrated may be huilt in cabinet form, such as illustrated in serial No. 359,745.

Figs. l and 2, or it may be built in to a wall or partition where space permits.

Fig. 3 illustrates a wall section in which is formed a recess or chamber A. This chamber is enclosed by a casing, consisting' of side sections 2 and top and bottom sections 3. The recess is adapted to be closed by a pair of panel sections 4 and 5, which are superposed with relation to each other, and supported one above the other. The upper panel 5 carries a seat section G, and the lower panel forms a support therefor when the seat is ext-ended as shown. The panels 4 and 5 are connected by a pair of coil springs 7. These springs permit movement of one panel with relation to the other and prevent separation of the same. and to that extent serve the function of a hinge connection.

One of the features of the present invention is to eliminate hardware to as large an extent as possible. hence the reason for the coil spring connection shown at 7. The abutting edges of the panel are grooved as at 8 for the reception of the coil springs 7 and these grooves are suliiciently deep to receive the springs and thereby permits the panels to assume a vertical position when the seat is folded; the ends of the springsbeing secured to the respective panel sections by screws 9, or other suitable means.

The lower panel 4 is roclrably mounted on a cross sill 10, and alignment of the lower end of the panel with relation to the sill is maintained by means of a pair of downwardly extendinganchor arms il, and a facing strip on the front side of the panel as shown in Fig. 8. These arms are secured to opposite sides of the lower panel and project downwardly therefrom. The bottom section 3 of the casing, which is provided for the reception of the seat when 'folded` is slotted as at l2 to permit the arms ll to project therethrough, and the lower ends of the arms are notched as at 13 to engage the bottom section 3 which serves as a stop. thereby preventing upward movement of the panel 4 with relation to the cross sill 10 when the lower panel is extended as in Fig. 3.

The panel 4 serves two functions. First that of a closure for the chamber A, and secondly that of a support for the upper panel when in closed position, and for the seat 6 when extended. The rear end of the seat extends into the chamber A and has secured thereto a rounded cross bar 14.

iii.)

vention which might be mentioned is the fact that the outer ends of the links 2Q are hookshaped as shown and this permits the links to be disconnected with relation to the back rest 19 and thereby permits the whole structure to be removed with relation to the casing"whenever desired. For instance when repairing. inspecting or cleaning the device it is desirable to permit easy removal ot the same. This is possible b v lirst uuhooking the links, and secondly, swinging the panels into almost vertical position. The projections ll may then be lifted out ot the slots and both panels twisted sideways. This permits the cross bar to be disengaged with relation to theslots and the whole structure to be removed.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. ln furniture of the character described the combination with a. casing having a chamber or recess formed therein, of a panel forming a. closure therefor. a cross-piece forming a support for the lower end of the panel and permitting outward rocking movement of the panel, an anchor arm se cured tothe panel, and a member with which said arm is engageable during outward movement of the panel to retain the panel on its support and to prevent upward movementof the panel when extended.

2; In furniture of the character descril-.ied the combination with a casing having a chamber or recess formed therein, of a panel forming a closure therefor, a cross-piece supporting` the panel and permitting outward rocking movement oit the panel, an anchor arm secured to the panel having a notch formed therein, and means with which the notched portion of the arm is cngageable to secure the panel against upward movement when extended and to maintain alignment of said panel with its support.

In furniture of the character described the combination with a panel and a support therefor, of means permitting outward rocking movement of the panel upon the support. said means comprising a downwardly projecting arm on the panel, a notch formed in the arm and a member with which lthe notch in the arm-engages, said member and anchor ariu securingthe panel against upward movement when rocked outwardly upon the support.

e. 1n furniture of the character described the combination with the lower panel and a support therefor, of means permitting outward rocking movement of the panel upon the support, said means comprising a pair of downwardly extending arms secured one on each side of the panel. and a cross bar with which the lower end of the arms are engageable, said arms being notched to engage the cross bar and to secure the panel against upward movement when extended and to maintain alignment of said panel with its rocker support.

5. In furniture of the character described the combination with a casing having a recess or chamber formed therein, of a pair of supcrposed panels forming a closure for the recess, a rocking joint formed between the lower panel and the casing, a rocking connection 'formed between the upper panel and the ltnvcr panel, a cross bar on thcinner end of 'the upper panel, a pair of slots formed in the casing into which the opposite ends of the cross bar extend and whereby thc upper panel guided. a back rest pivotallj7 attached to the inner side of the upper panel and to the lower end thereof, and n pair of links pivotallv attached to the casing at one end and to the upper end of the back rest at their opposite ends.

6. 1n furniture of the character i'lescribed the combination with a casing, of a recess or chamber formed therein, of a pair of superposed panels forming a closure for the recess, a rocker joint formed between the two panels, a rocker joint formed between the lower panel and the casing. said last named rocker joint being formed by rabbetting the edge of the panel to form a projecting exterior portion on the panel outside of the casing. a pair of arms secured to the inner side of the lower panel and at the lower end thereof, said arms and kexterior panel portion maintaining alignment between the panel and its rocker bearing support, a notch formed in the lower end of cach arm. and a cross member with which they engage when the lower panel is extended.

7. ln furniture of the character described the combination with. a casing having a recess or chamber formed therein, of a pair of su pei-posed panels forming` a closure for the recess, a rocking joint formed between the lower panel and the casing. a rocking coin .nectiou formed between the upper panel and the lower panel, a cross bar on the inner end of thc upper panel, a pair of slots formed in the casing into which the opposite ends of the cross bar extend and whereby tl e upper panel is guided, a bacl; rcst pivotally attached to the inner side of the upper panel and to the lower end thereof, a pair Of links pivotallv attached to the casing at one end and to the upper end of the back rest at their opposite ends, and a right angular extension formed on the npper end of cach slot into which the cross bar end is adapted to extend.

S. The combination with a recessed casing, of a seat having a foldable back, and a pair of vertically movable flexibly hinged panels, to the upper one of which the seat is secured, said panels being movable to enclose the scat and back within the recess and extensible lll Ell

to expose the seat :ind beck in operative position, e, pivotal connection lfornied between the seat and the lower end of the bzicl: sec tion, sind a pair oil links piivotzilly Connected to the upper end of the beelr section et one end, end pivotelly connected to the casing et their other ends.

9. `ln i'nrnitnre ot the character described, :i parir of super-posed pen/els, one panel lieving en end resting;- npon tlie end'olf the other panel, seid ends being; recessed to provide projecting portions on opp sine; sides there oit to 'forni ai joint, end e pair o'j longitndinel aligned 2grooves 'toi-ined adjacent seid re eessed ends :ind e flexible and yieldzilfile inenilier lnwinnj `its ends secured et tlie inner end ol" eeeli. groei/'e tlnis providing),` e hinge upon riliicli ilie panels muy lie swung to- Wzir'd one another in either direction.

lll. ln forniture oit the elierncter scribed, :i plir ot snperposed panels, one

panel lieif'ingr an end resting; upon the end o'll the other panel, seid ends lneinp; recessed provide projecting portions on opposing sides thereof" to forni n joint, and ay pair oil" lonffitndinel aligned grooves :termed edjaeent seid recessed ends, 'the grooves oit one penel aligned with tlie grooves of tno otlier panel, and n coil spring for, @zich peir ot aligned grooves, having its opposite ends secured, to tlie inner endsoi seid grooves., tlins proiiifiling;v e liingfe upon which the penels may lie vswung toiiaird one another in ier direction.

il. ln furniture oi the character deeeriloed, ai pair ot superposed panels, the upper panel haring en end refning` upon en end of the lower` panel, said ends beingl ren eessed to provide projecting; portions on opposite sides thereof, sind the outer edgje of the recessed portion ol' one end being rounded to permit free swinging' of said panels in one direetion and e flexible yieldmeeste :ilile member connecting the recessed ends ont tlie panels, whereby seid panels iney 1oe swung' toward each other in tlie direction. lieretot'ore mentioned.

l2. ln furniture olf the character deseriliefl, e pair ot panel members, the lupper panel resting` upon tlie upper end ot the lower panel, seid ends lieingreeessed to provide :i projecting; portion on opposingY sides thereolz to 'torni o joint und loneitiidinz-il grooves 'toi-ined adjacent midreeessed ends, :i coil spring; ior eer-li pair ot aligned jrooifes, seid sprinos liziringr their tree ends seem-ed neer the terminal oli tlie lgrooves, and e liozird secured to tlie side itlice ot one panel sind extending' over the other panel, said liozird permitting' tlie penels to swingitowzird one ainotlier in one dii'eetion, end :it :ill times concealing! tlie liingre oil the panels.

18. ln 'tnrnitnre oit the clnn'eeter described, the Combination with tlie casing lrlivinn; recess or chamber termed therein, ot e panel adapted to toi-in L elosiilre ttor the lower portion ot' tlie elieinber, e. roelrer joint formed between seid panel and the elsing` seid lest nzinied rocker joint being formed lir rsliliottiiis' the edge ot tlie panel to lorm n projeeti exterior portion on the panel exterior oi.' tlie easing, :ind e pair et firms secured to the inner side oit' tlie panel adjen cent tlie lower end thereof, seid arms and exterior panel portion niuin'teininfr alignment between tlie panel and its roclrer beziringr support.

ln testimoni7 wliereot l lieve hereunto set my liend in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CH i Efl'llllll GUY.

lillilnesses z lll. W. HEALEY, il. ll/l. HEALEY. 

